Which of the following is a characteristic of an early community?

Options

A. Narrow niche specialization.
B. High species diversity
C. High community production
D. Dense food web

Answer

To determine the characteristic of an early community, we need to analyze the options provided in relation to what an early community represents. An early community refers to a newly established ecological community that has just begun to stabilize. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the reasoning:

### Step 1: Understand the Concept of Early Community
An early community is characterized by its recent establishment and lack of stability. This means that the community is still in the process of developing and has not yet reached a mature state.

**Hint:** Think about what it means for a community to be "early" or "new." What characteristics would you expect in a community that is just starting out?

### Step 2: Evaluate the Options
1. **Narrow Niche Specialization**: In an early community, organisms often have a narrow niche because they are still adapting to their environment and may not have the resources or knowledge to exploit a wide range of ecological roles. This option aligns with the concept of an early community.

**Hint:** Consider how new organisms might interact with their environment. Would they be specialized or generalized?

2. **High Species Diversity**: An early community is unlikely to have high species diversity because it is just starting out. Diversity typically increases over time as the community matures.

**Hint:** Think about how diversity develops over time. Does it happen immediately, or does it take time?

3. **High Community Production**: High community production refers to the amount of biomass produced. In an early community, production is generally low because the community is not yet established.

**Hint:** Reflect on how productivity might change as a community matures. Would it be high or low at the beginning?

4. **Dense Food Web**: A dense food web indicates a complex network of interactions among various species. An early community would not have a dense food web as it takes time for interactions to develop.

**Hint:** Consider the complexity of interactions in a new community. Would it be simple or complex?

### Step 3: Identify the Correct Answer
Based on the analysis:
- The only option that fits the characteristics of an early community is **Narrow Niche Specialization**. This is because new communities are often characterized by organisms that have not yet diversified their roles and are still figuring out how to adapt to their new environment.

### Final Answer
**The characteristic of an early community is Narrow Niche Specialization.**